Amplifier Power Control in Frequency Hopping Applications and Methods

1. A method in an amplifier, the method comprising: operating the amplifier on a signal at first frequency during a corresponding set of first active intervals of the amplifier; monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier during a first active interval of the first set of active intervals; storing the amplifier characteristic monitored during the first active interval of the first set of active intervals; providing an open-loop control signal to the amplifier during a second active interval of the set of first active intervals subsequent to the first active interval of the set of first active intervals based on the stored amplifier characteristic monitored during the first active interval of the first set of active intervals.

2. The method of claim 1 , operating the amplifier on another signal at a second frequency during a corresponding set of second active intervals of the amplifier monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier during a first active interval of the second set of active intervals; storing the amplifier characteristic monitored during the first active interval of the second set of active intervals; providing an open-loop control signal to the amplifier during a second active interval of the set of second active intervals subsequent to the first active interval of the set of second active intervals based on the stored amplifier characteristic monitored during the first active interval of the second set of active intervals.

3. The method of claim 2 , storing the amplifier characteristics monitored during the first and second sets of active intervals in association with the corresponding first and second frequencies of the first and second signals.

4. The method of claim 1 , monitoring the characteristic of the amplifier during a plurality of active intervals of the first set of active intervals, the plurality of active intervals including the first active interval; averaging the plurality of characteristics monitored during the plurality of active intervals; storing the average of the plurality of characteristics monitored during the plurality of active intervals; providing the open-loop control signal to the amplifier during an active interval subsequent to the plurality of active intervals based on the stored average of the plurality of characteristics monitored during the plurality of active intervals.

5. The method of claim 1 , selecting the open-loop control signal provided to the amplifier during the second active interval based on comparing the stored amplifier characteristic with a reference characteristic.

6. The method of claim 1 , monitoring the characteristic of the amplifier includes detecting at least one of an output power of the amplifier, a supply current of the amplifier, and a supply voltage of the amplifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , providing the open-loop control signal to the amplifier by providing a control signal that is not modified by feed back when the amplifier is active.

8. A method in an amplifier, the method comprising: monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier during an operating interval of the amplifier; storing the characteristic monitored; providing an open-loop control signal to the amplifier during an operating interval subsequent to the operating interval during which the characteristic is monitored, the open-loop control signal based on the characteristic monitored.

9. The method of claim 8 , selecting the open-loop control signal provided to the amplifier during the subsequent operating interval based on comparing the stored characteristic with a reference characteristic.

10. The method of claim 8 , monitoring the characteristic includes: monitoring the characteristic over multiple operating intervals of the amplifier at a common frequency, averaging the characteristic monitored at the common frequency, and storing the average of the characteristic monitored over multiple operating intervals of the amplifier at the common frequency.

11. The method of claim 8 , monitoring the characteristic of the amplifier includes detecting at least one of an output power of the amplifier, a supply current of the amplifier, and a supply voltage of the amplifier.

12. The method of claim 8 , providing the open-loop control signal to the amplifier includes providing to the amplifier a control signal that is not modified by feedback during operation of the amplifier.

13. An amplification method in a transmitter that transmits signals in sequential bursts produced by an amplifier in response to corresponding open-loop control signals, the method comprising: producing a burst in response to an open-loop control signal applied to the amplifier; monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier during a first burst; storing the characteristic monitored; applying a second open-loop control signal to the amplifier, subsequent to the first open-loop control signal, the second open-loop control signal based on the stored characteristic monitored during the first burst.

14. The method of claim 13 , monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier during a plurality of bursts including the first burst; averaging a plurality of characteristics monitored in connection with a particular frequency; storing the average of the plurality of characteristics monitored in connection with the particular frequency; applying the second open-loop control signal to the amplifier based on the stored average of the plurality of characteristics monitored.

15. The method of claim 13 , monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier during a plurality of bursts including the first burst; averaging a plurality of characteristics monitored in connection with a range of frequencies; storing the average of the plurality of characteristics monitored in connection with the range of frequencies; applying the second open-loop control signal to the amplifier based on the stored average of the plurality of characteristics monitored in connection with the range of frequencies.

16. The method of claim 13 , selecting the second open-loop control signal, before applying the second open-loop control signal, based on a comparison of the stored characteristic with a reference characteristic.

17. The method of claim 13 , monitoring the characteristic of the amplifier includes detecting at least one of an output power of the amplifier, a supply current of the amplifier, and a supply voltage of the amplifier.

18. The method of claim 13 , providing the open-loop control signal to the amplifier includes providing to the amplifier a control signal that is not modified by feedback during a burst.

19. A method in an amplifier, the method comprising, operating the amplifier in burst mode in response to open loop control signals applied to the amplifier, each burst having a characteristic frequency within a first range of frequencies; monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier at multiple frequencies within the first range of frequencies; averaging the characteristic monitored at the multiple frequencies within the first range of frequencies; storing the averaged characteristic in association with the first range of frequencies; providing open-loop control signals to the amplifier for operation within the first range of frequencies based on the averaged characteristic stored in association with the first range of frequencies.

20. The method of claim 19 , monitoring a characteristic of the amplifier at multiple frequencies within a second range of frequencies; averaging the characteristic monitored at the multiple frequencies within the second range of frequencies; storing the averaged characteristic in association with the second range of frequencies; providing open-loop control signals to the amplifier for operation within the second range of frequencies based on the averaged characteristic stored in association with the second range of frequencies.

21. The method of claim 19 , providing the open-loop control signals to the amplifier by providing to the amplifier control signals that is not modified by feedback during a burst.